"Everything in life has a beginning and an end, and a price to pay, and if the price is life, I am not prepared for any more of my collaborators to pay it, nor am I prepared to pay it either."

Mr Cantu did not specify when exactly the digital arm of the newspaper would close down except to say it would be "soon".

Thirty-five journalists have been murdered in Mexico because of their work since 1992, and a quarter of those were also tortured, the Committee to Protect Journalists says. Another three died on dangerous assignments.

In the same period, 50 journalists were killed in incidents where the motive was not clear.

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Journalists took to the streets to protest after Ms Breach was killed

Last month, the governor of the state of Chihuahua said his government did not have the means to tackle organised crime.

He said he had requested federal resources to help local police fight the drug cartels.